Foreignising as translation strategy in prescribed books for second-language learners

Abstract

The focus of the paper is to describe the transfer of culture-specific elements of the Afrikaans novel By die Lêplek van die Leeus (In the Lions' Den) by Louise Prinsloo to English. This is a prescribed book for Afrikaans second-language learners in Grade 11 in the Limpopo Province. The story deals with intercultural and interracial issues of a post-apartheid South Africa on a matter-of-fact, straightforward level which is appealing to young people who have to cope with such issues in their everyday lives. The story contains many elements from different cultures and languages: there is an Afrikaner community, a Zulu community and a Sotho boyfriend. This novel, with its incorporation of the languages of different cultural groups, is cast in the postcolonial mould. The translation is placed even more firmly within this mould because yet another language and culture come into play.

Key Words: translation studies, functionalist model, postcolonial, culture-specific, multiculturality, translation strategies, foreignising

Journal for Language Teaching Vol.38(2) 2004: 230-242